A total of 330 young people from rural parts of Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet County, have graduated from an intensive digital literacy programme designed to equip them with skills needed to participate in Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital economy.

The graduation comes at a time when digital skills are increasingly being viewed as a critical driver of employment, entrepreneurship and economic growth, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform workplaces and access to services.

The latest GSMA Intelligence report, developed in partnership with Huawei, estimates that improving digital skills could contribute approximately $3.5 trillion to global GDP between 2023 and 2030, highlighting the economic value of ensuring more people can effectively participate in the digital economy.

The report, titled Bridging the Divide: Enhancing Digital Literacy in the AI Era, identifies a digital divide affecting an estimated 3.1 billion people globally, with gaps in digital skills, user trust and AI literacy continuing to prevent millions from benefiting fully from technological advances.

The graduation of the 330 youth in Keiyo South has therefore highlighted the importance of taking digital training beyond major towns and into rural communities, where limited access to computers, smartphones, reliable internet connectivity and other technological resources can restrict opportunities for young people.

The graduates underwent a one-month intensive training programme delivered through the Huawei TECH4ALL DigiTruck by Computers for Schools Kenya in partnership with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

The programme exposed participants to computer basics, smartphone and internet use, productivity software, cybersecurity and online safety. They were also trained on how to search and apply for jobs online, conduct businesses digitally and use technology to access opportunities beyond their immediate communities.

The graduation ceremony was presided over by Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and brought together government officials, technology stakeholders and local leaders.

Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy Eng. John Tanui described the initiative as an important investment in Kenya’s young population, saying digital infrastructure would only have meaningful impact if citizens had the skills to use it.

“Infrastructure without digital skills is a highway with no vehicles,” Tanui said.

He said the training of the 330 youth was part of a broader government strategy to develop a skilled workforce ahead of the expansion of last-mile fibre connectivity across the country.

Tanui said the Huawei DigiTruck, alongside the planned Chepkorio Centre of Excellence Digital Hub, would help strengthen digital skills and create a pool of young people capable of taking advantage of emerging opportunities.

“Through the Huawei DigiTruck and the upcoming Chepkorio Centre of Excellence Digital Hub, Keiyo South is creating the human capital needed to drive President Ruto’s Digital Superhighway programme into the future,” he said.

The GSMA Intelligence report warns that the rapid expansion of AI could either help bridge the digital divide or deepen existing inequalities, depending on whether communities are adequately prepared to use the technology.

According to the report, AI-powered applications capable of processing images, audio, video and text could make digital technology easier to use for people with limited digital skills.

However, the increasing use of AI also creates new risks, particularly around cybersecurity, misinformation, fraud and deepfakes.

The report consequently calls for greater investment in basic digital training and AI literacy to ensure that underserved communities are not left behind as technology evolves.

It further recommends community-based digital training programmes, identifying Huawei's DigiTruck initiative as an example of a field-tested model that originated in Kenya.

The report notes that such programmes have the potential to improve participants' employment prospects and incomes by giving them practical skills that can be applied in the workplace and in entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, CS Wandayi commended Huawei for extending the DigiTruck programme to Elgeyo Marakwet, saying digital skills could play a major role in transforming rural communities.

“We commend Huawei for bringing the DigiTruck to Elgeyo Marakwet and for investing in the digital skills and capabilities of communities that are at the heart of Kenya’s digital transformation,” Wandayi said.

He, however, noted that digital skills must be accompanied by reliable internet connectivity and electricity if rural communities are to fully benefit from the opportunities created by technology.

The government, he said, was committed to expanding internet and electricity connectivity, particularly in underserved areas, to ensure that the skills acquired through programmes such as DigiTruck translate into tangible economic opportunities.

“As Government, we are committed to expanding internet and electricity connectivity, particularly in underserved areas, so that the knowledge and skills gained through initiatives such as DigiTruck can be translated into real opportunities, livelihoods and better services,” he said.

Huawei Kenya Director for Government Affairs and Policy Adam Lane congratulated the graduates and praised participants who emerged winners in an innovation competition held as part of the programme.

The competition challenged trainees to develop ideas demonstrating how digital skills could be used to address challenges affecting their communities.

Lane said Huawei would continue working with partners to ensure that the DigiTruck curriculum evolves alongside emerging technologies, particularly AI.

He said the programme would help communities understand new digital risks while also positioning young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

“We have not just brought a truck; we have brought digital skills, hope and opportunity right to the doorstep of our rural villages,” Lane said.

He added that the 330 graduates were now better equipped to compete in an increasingly digital economy.

The DigiTruck programme has continued to expand its reach across Kenya, taking computers, internet access and digital training directly to rural communities where young people may otherwise have limited exposure to technology.

For many of the graduates, the training provides an opportunity to acquire practical skills that can be used to seek employment, establish online businesses, access digital government services and connect with markets beyond their local areas.

Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo said he would continue pursuing partnerships aimed at equipping young people in the constituency with skills that could enable them to pursue their ambitions and compete for opportunities in the global market.

The graduation comes as employers increasingly demand digital competencies and as AI reshapes the nature of work across different sectors.

With billions of people worldwide still facing barriers to meaningful digital participation, stakeholders say expanding practical digital literacy programmes in rural communities will be critical in ensuring that Kenya's digital transformation benefits young people across the country — not just those living in major urban centres.